Low

Sunday, 04 February 2018

BRMC is in the middle of their US tour promoting their new album Specter At The Feast. As I will be missing them when they are in LA next month, it was imperative I catch them at the House of Blues in San Diego on Tuesday. …

California-based band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (often abbreviated to B.R.M.C.) will be at First Avenue’s mainroom this Sunday, February 11th. Their 7th studio album Wrong Creatures came out in January, and features singles “Little Thing Gone Wild” and “Echo”.

Night Beats (named after Sam Cooke’s classic album) have been announced as main support for BRMC’s 2018 tour. The band originally started as a duo (Danny Lee Blackwell and James Traeger), but now a trio with Jakob Bowden on bass.
Night Beats’ latest Who Sold My Generation is out now.

Portugal. The Man's frontman John Gourley recall working on his seventh album, Evil Friends , as a collaboration with Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton). According to Gourley, "I walked into his [Danger Mouse] place …

California’s Flor (singer/guitarist Zach Grace, bassist Dylan Bauld, guitarist McKinley Kitts, and drummer Kyle Hill) will be in town with
Handsome Ghost on Friday, February 9, at the 7th Street Entry.

Sony Masterworks recording artists, The Accidentals (Sav Buist, Katie Larson and Michael Dause), will be playing the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis this February 9th. The group was named “Top 10 Bands to Watch in 2017” by Yahoo Music.

20-year-old indie-folk singer-songwriter from Williston, Vermont, Hailey Ward will open the show.

Minneapolis-based artist Kid Dakota is having a CD release party for his fifth album Denervation (Graveface Records). Alan Sparhawk from local heroes Low to open.

We wrote about Kid Dakota in 2008: “I'm the first to admit my shameless devotion to the Minneapolis music scene, but Kid Dakota deserves special consideration. The product of singer / songwriter / guitarist/ engineer / all-around- dynamo Darren Jackson on guitar, keyboard and vocals, Kid Dakota also features drummer Ian Prince (formerly of Houston and the Dames and currently of Story of the Sea). Jackson, a South Dakota native, is also a producer in his own right, running a recording studio built into his house, where he has worked on albums by the Owls, Ice Palace and Vicious Vicious.”

Classically-trained electronic producer Emancipator (Doug Appling) is headlining the Fine Line Music Café on Saturday, February 10, in support of his #1 iTunes Electronic album, Baralku (Loci Records).

British post-hardcore band Enter Shikari is playing the Amsterdam Bar & Hall in St Paul this Saturday. Their critically-acclaimed UK Top Five album The Spark is out now on Play It Again Sam/Ambush Reality.

Originally billed with BRMC, Detroit’s Flint Eastwood (named after Clint Eastwood) will now be headlining the smaller 7th Street Entry stage. Flint Eastwood is the stagename to singer Jax Anderson. Anderson’s latest Broke Royalty came out
April 14, 2017 on Neon Gold Records.

Wrexham pop-punks Neck Deep will be headlining this all-ages show at First Avenue’s mainroom.

Show up early to this “The Peace And The Panic Tour” to check out Seaway, among other openers, as they replaced their previously announced headlining “American Vacation” Tour, because the opportunity to join this tour was too good to pass up. They made the right call because the first half of the “The Peace And The Panic Tour” has sold out.

Friday, 30 June 2017

The 20th Anniversary of the Basilica Block Party is taking place on Friday (July 11) and Saturday (July 12).
I have mentioned before that it's not a great place to see music (because of the talkers....

As you can see from his setlist (which does not list encores), he had wedged in three Bauhaus songs in the middle of his set. Those songs were well-received... as for most of the well-known songs.
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Poptone is Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins, of Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, and Tones on Tail. Joining the duo to form Poptone will be Haskins’ daughter Diva Dompé, formerly of the Los Angeles rock band Blackblack.

We’re obviously fans, so if you grew up in the same time period, you really need to be at First Avenue on Saturday.

For this retrospective tour, Poptone will play songs from all their previous bands, heavily leaning on the rare Tones On Tail songs. Expect to hear dance classics ‘Ok This Is the Pops’ and ‘Go!’

The crowd at the music stage began swelling very early on, as local favorites Hippo Campus played first, with a spirited 40 min. set that included new single, ‘South’ (EP out Oct 2 on Grand Jury Records)
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This is a really solid event. If you live in Duluth, or willing to drive from Minneapolis, the show looks outstanding.

We previously have seen all headlining bands before, with Hippo Campus recently in March 2017 and noted, “The buzz for Hippo Campus at their homecoming show was simply amazing. As soon as the band took the stage, a hundred cellphones went up in the air to record every moment of the band. The audience was generally young teenagers, but that is expected for a semi-rare all-ages weekend show at First Avenue.
The last time we saw Hippo Campus, they were definitely one of the key attractions to Rock the Garden 2016. Their RTG 50-min set “wowed the many in the crowd who were there to see them play a danceable mix of familiar and some yet-to-be-released songs.” Some of those preview songs are now available on their debut record landmark (Grand Jury Records). ”

This show is presented by First Avenue, The Current, and KUMD. Since this is an open area, so the show will go on rain or shine.

Also, as tradition goes, we stopped by the Leinie Lodge Bandshell to catch a little set from Texas-born, Louisiana-based Marcia Ball playing some old time rock and blues on her keyboard.
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Other shows in the area:

07/07/2017 Don’t know how is it that Chicano Batman hasn’t been sued by DC Comics, but the band is thriving with their recent release of Freedom is Free via ATO Records (Billboard consider the album as “Best Albums of 2017 So Far”). Khruangbin will open the Turf Club in St Paul... the event is sold out.
Brainstory is also on the bill.
8pm, $20.

07/07/2017 Former Drive By Trucker’s Jason Isbell (billed as Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit) and The Mountain Goats will be at the new Palace Theatre in St Paul this Friday. The Mountain Goats’ Goths is out now on Merge Records. The show is sold out.
7pm, $49.50.

07/08/2017 Jared & The Mill and Canyon Spells will be playing the
7th Street Entry on Saturday.
8pm, $12.

07/08/2017 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Michelle Branch will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café on Saturday, in support of her new Hopeless Romantic album from Verge Records.
No opening band listed on the venue’s website, but her poster shows Haerts.
8pm, $30.

07/08/2017 Today, Philadelphia four-piece, by way of New York, Palm is headlining the Turf Club in St Paul. Their new EP Shadow Expert is out now on Carpark Records. Palberta will open.
8pm, $10.

Mark Mallman’s first-ever Holiday show is taking place this Saturday, December 17th at the Icehouse. Typical Icehouse shows takes place after hours, so please note start time (10:30pm).

Joining Mallman will be special guests Lydia Liza, Josiah Lemanski, and Maggie Morrison.

Additional details below:

Mark Mallman Presents: THE PEACE ON EARTH SHOW

Mark Mallman will headline his first ever holiday show Dec 17 at Icehouse.

The “Peace On Earth Show” will focus strongly on joyful songs of peace, with a touch of the holiday season. The Twin Cities most masterful showman will be joined by special guests Lydia Liza and Josiah Lemanski performing their updated version of “Baby It's Cold Outside”, Maggie Morrison singing John Lennon's “Imagine”, A Venus De Mars/Mark Mallman duet of Bowie and Bing, and many other surprises throughout the night (including an appearance by the man in red himself.)

“It will be a much needed night of good feelings, focused simply on the music of joy. No strings attached.” He says. Mallman will also perform spirited material from his 2016 local smash, “The End Is Not The End”. Porcupine, featuring Husker Du member Greg Norton, open the night.

As for Giraffage, the San Francisco kid has become one of the fast rising DJ/producers on the scene, working on the soundtrack for the recent iPhone 6 commercial with Fool's Gold release "Be With You". Recently Carly Rae Jepse
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On the 20th Anniversary of Snoop Doggy Dog's debut album Doggystyle, Engine Room Recordings released their tribute to the man with Doggystyle Restyled: A Tribute To Snoop Dogg, which came out December 17th, 2013.
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Hip-hop, electronic artist/producer Jake Gusto’s special “The Homecoming Show” will be taking place next Wednesday at the 7th Street Entry. This is Gusto’s first performance in Minneapolis since relocating to Los Angeles earlier this year... so expect support from local friends and family.

Joining Gusto will be The Jones Dickens and Sam Og.

Additional details:

On Dec. 21, Jake Gusto will defend his turf by taking the stage at First Avenue/7th St. Entry for “The Homecoming Show” – the aptly titled, full circle performance by the unrelenting 24 year old. In what is sure to be an emotional performance, Jake Gusto comes back home on a comeback mission.

* Personal note, I actually mistaken Jake Gusto for another local musician Jake Jones (who also previously headlined the 7th Street Entry on December 7th, 2016).

Other shows in the area:

12/17/16 Low’s Christmas show is taking place at First Avenue on Saturday. All proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Low adds, “Despite the commerce involved, we hope you will consider this our gift to you.”

12/17/16 Astronautalis with Finding Novyon will be at the Triple Rock Social Club this Saturday.

12/17/16 Giraffage will be headlining the Fine Line Music Café, courtesy of SIMshow. Details at
finelinemusic.com. We last saw Giraffage with Slow Magic in Nov 2015.

12/18/16 Country music singer and songwriter Kane Brown will be at the Varsity Theater; touring in support of his debut self-titled album (on RCA Nashville).

12/19/16 Join locals The Happy Children, Devon Reason, and others for this Holiday celebration. $5 at the 7th Street Entry.

I distinctly remember seeing a Pack A.D. and a Low poster on the first episode of The Returned (US version).
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British musician, singer, songwriter, and author Ben Watt (otherwise known as the guy in Everything But the Girl) just headlined the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 22nd, in support of his new album Fever Dream (Unmade Road).

Alan Sparhawk

The evening began with a rare solo set from Alan Sparhawk from Duluth band Low (as well as Retribution Gospel Choir, Black-Eyed Snakes, The Murder of Crows, and seemingly many more) who not only mesmerized the dinner club crowd during his brief thirty-minutes, but loaned a prize red guitar for the headlining act to play as well.

Sparhawk started somewhat randomly, in a dark suit and hunched over his guitar; half-tuning, half-playing before seguing into his beginning cover of Crosby Stills Nash and Young’s ‘Ohio’ poignantly changing “four dead in Ohio” to “forty-nine dead in Orlando” at one point.

Guns were obviously on the singer-songwriter’s mind in lieu of recent terrorist events, as he moved next into ‘Sandinista’ from Low’s 2007 album, Drums and Guns.

After an homage to Lake Superior and admittedly being a little spooked by all the upright guitars resembling people in his peripheral vision, a trio of Low songs even more stripped down was well-received, including newest songs, ‘What Part of Me’ and ‘Lies’.

Ben Watt

Ben Watt, with guitarist Bernard Butler took the stage shortly after 7:30pm. Just a brief introduction to Bernard Butler, for those not familiar with the musician/music producer: he was Suede’s original guitarist. He wrote their second album Dog Man Star, but left the band before promotional and touring in 1994. Butler and Suede’s singer Brett Anderson would eventually mend, when they formed The Tears in 2004.

Butler has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain’s most original and influential guitarists... although watching him work on stage, being as humble as he is, Butler doesn’t let those titles goes to his head.

Watt & Butler met at a party “six years ago”, and wanted to collaborate because they “both wanted a change” (according to the Nottingham Post), however, the story he tells on stage was that it started as a joke.

We caught Watt & Butler on a tiny venue Bryant Lake Bowl in July 2014. The original booking sold out when words of these two legendary musicians were in town, so they quickly added another show to satiate demands.

Now the two is back, but this time at a much bigger venue and with a full backing band: bassist Cameron Ralston and drummer Pinson Chanselle, both from Spacebomb Records. Watt explained that the Spacebomb session musicians were highly recommended by Michael (M.C. Taylor) of Hiss Golden Messenger.

Since Ben Watt’s Fever Dream album just came out on Unmade Road, he played a lot of “new sh***”, but throwing in a few “old ones, because I know you guys like that.” You got the sense that he doesn’t think much of bands that are touring right now, but playing the hits from their old albums. As he would later explain, he is a very different person now than when he was 19 (writing ‘Some Things Don't Matter’ from his debut album North Marine Drive... before Everything But the Girl).

Setlist

‘Hendra’, the title track from his previously 2014 album with Bernard Butler, was dedicated to his sister Jenny, who passed away unexpectedly. He explained that ‘Hendra’ was a street to Jenny’s rental vacation home. When he found out that the word meant ‘home’, he knew he had to write the song for his sister.

Watt said that he rarely sang on Everything But the Girl and so he simply didn’t play them live. One day, talking to EBTG’s singer Tracey Thorn, Thorn suggested that he sing on one of the songs Watt wrote for her. With that introduction, he proceeded to play ‘Rollercoaster’ solo on keyboard.

The other EBTG song, ‘25th December’ was the penultimate song. Of course, the title track to Fever Dream was saved last to close out the set.

With nearly a full house doing a standing ovation, the band came back out to play to ‘New Year of Grace’ and ‘Forget’ for the encore

Ben Watt’s Fever Dream is out now. Watt will be doing a free acoustic in-store appearance at Luna Music in Indianapolis tomorrow (June 29th).

The Returned, originally French title Les Revenants, was described as "The Walking Dead with Brains". This is clearly an inaccurate description, despite the clever zombie/brains analogy. The Returned
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I was watching the 2016 reboot of Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (based on and noticed that there were some posters of Vancouver bands in the background, notably The Pack A.D., The Evaporators and Nardwuar the Human Serviette.

The Pack A.D.’s poster is a show poster for a local venue in the month of May. The image used is taken from their EP We Kill Computers, which came out in 2010.

The Returned (US)

A&E

This isn't the first time that I spotted The Pack A.D. in the background - I distinctly remember seeing a Pack A.D. and a Low poster on the first episode of The Returned (US version).

There's an explanation for this, I believe this film and television show were filmed in Vancouver, Canada, and that someone on the production team is a big Pack A.D. fan, and did their best to sneak in these posters.

As for Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, the film’s alright. If you’re a big fan of Mystery Men or the underrated The Specials (James Gunn’s 2010 film), you’ll find a lot to like about this goofy “super-hero” film.

About Electra Woman and Dyna Girl:

Crime fighting duo Electra Woman and Dyna Girl are small-town heroes with no real powers. After a cleaning up of their little city, these two super friends are about to make it to the big time. Swept up in the star-studded glamor of Hollywood, Electra Woman (Grace Helbig) soon finds everything she's ever dreamed of: fame, fortune, a new arsenal of high-tech gadgets, the attention of every super-stud in town - but Dyna Girl (Hannah Hart) wonders what price must be paid for her newfound stardom? When the city falls into crisis, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl must battle evil dilemmas, growing egos and - of course- supervillains. If they want to save the day, they'll have to save each other first.

April 8th saw the release of Fever Dream, a new solo album from songwriter/producer/DJ Ben Watt, known in the States as one half of Everything But the Girl. This is actually Watt’s third formal solo record; his first one, North Marine Drive was released over 30 years ago while Hendra was put out in 2014. Both were critically acclaimed, the latter being something of a return to the British folk sound he had started with Drive before delving into the “sophisti-pop” of EBTG and drum and bass/electronic of other projects.

Fever Dream is a lush and poetic collection of songs that will sound beautiful live in concert. The record is currently streaming on Pitchfork - I highly recommend giving “Winter’s Eve” a listen. Be sure and catch his show at the Dakota Jazz Club Wednesday, June 22nd. And go early as the incomparable Alan Sparhawk (founding member of Low) will be making a rare solo appearance as the night’s opener!

All the critics were mesmorized by Zella Day’s Coachella appearance (example, Consequence of Sound wrote, “it's entirely possible that Zella Day looks back on Coachella 2016 as the moment that launched her career in earnest...Day is an undeniably powerful vocalist.”)... we’ve been saying that since we saw her in July 2015: “Zella Day is a force to be reckoned with. Her voice is more powerful than the emotional screamers and growlers that I'm typically listening to. For such a petite girl, Zella has one of the biggest voices I have heard in a while and it was refreshing...”

The Arizona native is currently touring in support of her debut album Kicker, stopping by the Triple Rock Social Club next Wednesday, June 22nd.

Dreamers to open. The Brooklyn-birthed band’s debut This Album Does Not Exist will drop August 26 via Fairfax Recordings. The record was co-produced by Kevin Augunas (Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Cold War Kids) and recorded at the Fairfax Recordings Studios (formerly Sound City).

Dreamers’ frontman Nick Wold was extremely excited to be in the same studios as some of his favorite artists: “Tom Petty, Neil Young, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, and so many others... The last year and a half has been a surreal journey, from a self induced houselessness, living in a practice space in Brooklyn for 2 years, to circling the US four times in a small van, seeing countless cities and meeting incredible people everywhere we went. It gave us a new perspective as a band, and we finally left our comfort zone to embrace movement and change.”

Richmond’s Miramar (not to be confused with the Australia’s Miramar band) has band members as diverse as Puerto Rican singer Reinaldo Alvarez, Chilean pianist Marlysse Simmons-Argandoña, and Tennessee singer Laura Ann Singh (Alvarez and Simmons-Argandoña previously worked together as part of a cult salsa band Bio Ritmo).

Miramar is currently touring in support of their debut Dedication to Sylvia Rexach, available this Friday via Barbès Records.

Much of this was attributed to the band’s infectious, sometimes corny enthusiasm. In his powder blue suit, Peter Morén, flaunted Bowie-inspired dance moves while guitarist Björn Yttling …

PETER BJORN AND JOHN
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Thursday, 06/23/16, 7:30pm ($20)finelinemusic.com

Like many fans, we first discovered Peter Bjorn and John through their big, viral hit ‘Young Folks’ (the song was soooo massive, even a young Kanye West stole the catchy melody). We caught the band in May 2007 at First Avenue with Au Revoir Simone. By the time ‘Young Folks’ was played, during the encore, Heather from Au Revoir Simone came on stage to sing the girl part.

I believe their last Minneapolis appearance was in 2011 at First Avenue, but I know PB&J are massive Prince fans. When they learned of his unexpected death, they wrote, “As everyone in shock and utter disbelief from last nights sad news. We have many shared memories and connections to this giant in our band. Listening to the "Diamonds & pearls"-album back in highschool with Bjorn, djing "when you were mine" time and again, drunkening dancing with John at a Dublin aftershow to "1999", playing First Avenue & 7th St Entry plenty of times and always thinking of "Purple Rain", listening to "Sign o the times" on my ipod while preparing and getting inflences for the "Living Thing"-album. Referencing him again during the recording of "Breakin' Point". Thanks!! Too soon... #prince”

Expect the trio to mention or dedicate a song to the Purple One when they come back to Minneapolis next Thursday, June 23rd at the Fine Line Music Café in support of their new album Breaking Point.

Friday, 01 April 2016

We’re big Dan Clowes fans, so we were delighted to hear that the author/cartoonist Daniel Clowes will be doing a book signing for his latest Patience book next Thursday at Magers & Quinn booksellers. Although it is free, there will be a massive crowd …

Cartoonist Daniel Clowes’ last stop on his Patience book tour took place March 31st at Magers & Quinn Booksellers in Minneapolis. As expected, the cult artist filled the book store with eager fans almost immediately... but if you arrived a little late, you could still find a spot in the bookstore.

Zak Sally, local artist (and former bassist for Low and Enemymine), discussed the new book with Daniel Clowes. It wasn’t really so much about the actual book, but more like a casual conversation of how he first met Clowes (doing the “cartoonist walk” on Telegraph Street in Berkeley) to Eightball. The conversation never really touched on what the book was about or why Clowes need to tell this “Science Fiction” story. One interesting thing you did learn about Patience was that it really was an exercise in patience, as it took Clowes five years to produce. Just in the last year was spent coloring the entire 178-page epic story.

Sally would then open the Q&A to the audience, and some asked if he would do a comic in the digital medium. Of course, Clowes, said absolutely not. He doesn’t understand it and would rather someone (younger) do that. Another question was about Wilson, which was filmed in St Paul/Minneapolis last year (see photo of Woody Harrelson). Clowes said the studio told him the film would come out “Fall 2016”. He jokingly said that he requested they credit “St Paul as Oakland”.

After the Q&A, fans were allowed to line up to get autographs from Clowes. His policy was pretty loose (he would sign anything he worked on and allowed photographs).
I got my first print of Ghost World (which was already signed by Clowes!) and the officially licensed Lil’ Enid vinyl doll.

So, just a backstory, but I was mostly a DC Comics/Vertigo kid. A friend of mine, Shawn, got into Eightball and soon we were following the Ghost World serial. Eightball came out infrequently, and we’d actually never knew when it would come out... they would just randomly show up at the comic store (and often we’re missing a few issues here and there). Personally, I’ve bought most of Clowes’ books, at least until David Boring (which was actually first published in Eightball)... However that all changed, as I bought Patience at the signing.

I just finished reading the book, and I can say it’s probably the most straightforward story that Clowes has ever written. It’s not weird and “Twin Peaks” like Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron, it’s not unintentional/intentional funny like Pussey!, and it’s certainly not fake super-hero The Death-Ray... I feel like this was Clowes’ first time travel/sci-fi story (I’m probably wrong). However, if you take away the science fiction elements, Patience is actually really a love story. If you love David Boring, I think you’ll find Patience just as satisfying.

This Tommy Stinson (bass player for this little known band called The Replacements) with Milwaukee's Midnight Reruns and Philadelphia's Beach Slang is sold out.
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THE CURRENT'S ANNIVERSARY PARTY
presented by 89.3 The Current
at First Avenue
Friday, 01/22/16, 7pm ($20)first-avenue.com

The annual The Current show is taking place next week: starting with Duluth's Low as headliner. Also on the bills are local favorites, John Mark Nelson (who previously appeared on Lowertown Line), Mixed Blood Majority (who previously had a CD release party), Bad Bad Hats (who we previously sold out the 7th Street Entry), and Bones & Beeker.

That's not all! Head back to First Avenue on Saturday, January 23rd for round two of the Current's Anniversary Party, featuring: Tommy Stinson (you know, from the Replacements), Gramma's Boyfriend (featuring Haley Bonar), Cactus Blossoms, Gospel Machine, and Bruised Violet.

This is the 11th Anniversary for The Current. Details below:

The Current will go to 11 and celebrate the start of a new decade with a weekend filled with all-local lineups on Jan. 22 and 23, 2016 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

“This year’s eclectic lineup is a reminder of the rich and diverse music that is happening right here in our backyard and we’re excited that we get to share this great music with our fans,” said Jim McGuinn, program director for The Current. “While these concerts mark the birth of The Current, the party is really for our awesome members and listeners, who support The Current day after day and year after year.”

We caught Lower Dens last July 2015 and noted that she had plenty of buzz. In just six months, she's back in Minneapolis, still touring in support of her Escape from Evil (Ribbon Music) album. Expect the same fans and buzz for singer Jana Hunter's band.

Opening up the 7th Street Entry show will be Australia's local band Invisible Boy. Apparently they have the same name as the Australian folk/pop Australian band.

Andrew McMahon said it best last night. "Leave your problems on the other side of that door!" he said as he pointed towards the doors of First Avenue last Monday at the Journey's Wilderness Politics Tour
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He is We had tour staffs/roadies! We're not just talking one guy, we're talking about a group of them that tune the guitar, setup lamps, does all the soundcheck - this is really unheard of for a
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JACK'S MANNEQUIN
with She is We
at First Avenue
Sunday, 01/24/16, 7pm ($30.50/Sold Out)first-avenue.com

Jack's Mannequin is making a stop at First Avenue on Sunday, January 24th for their 10 year anniversary of Everything in Transit. This band started as a side project for Andrew McMahon from Something Corporate but quickly turned into a sensation among younger kids. I remember when this album came out and still remember every single word. This show is sure to be a night of pure nostalgia.

We previously caught McMahon as part of the Wilderness Politics Tour (with New Politics) at First Avenue in 2015, and he played six Jack's Mannequin songs, which went over well with the audience... so expect a similar reaction as this will be a 100% Mannequin show.

She is We, from the ashes of He is We, will open the show. This is the new solo project from Rachel Taylor. You may recall that we caught He Is We in 2011 at the Triple Rock, and was totally surprised that they had a very professional road crew and that everyone (99.9% women) in the audience sang along to all of their songs.

Low came on stage as ZZ Top, complete fuzzy guitars and horseshoe moustache on drummer Mimi Parker. The band Duluth band have been busy playing support dates for Slowdive
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Duluth, MN trio Low just released their latest, Ones and Sixes (Sub Pop Records) on Friday and celebrated its emergence with an appearance at local store Electric Fetus’ annual Fall Festival and Garage Sale with a generous 50min. in-store live set.

Alan Sparhawk

The band left their friendly confines of the north shore, to record and co-produce at Bon Iver’s April Base studios in Eau Claire, WI and the result is a work laced with immediacy – “It comes from here. It comes from now. I’m not going to tell you what this record is about”, singer Alan Sparhawk says describing the new record.

“We’ve got the sun comin’ in on us” Sparhawk winced towards the window, due to playing an afternoon set, before strumming the first few chords of current single, ‘No Comprende’. The band then dialed back to 2013 for ‘The Invisible Way’, with mostly seated bassist Steve Garrigan splitting his time between bass and keys for the set.

Drummer and Sparhawk’s wife Mimi Parker took over lead for the crawling ‘The Innocents’, which was counterbalanced by the almost peppy ‘What Part of Me’ played next, both from the new album. The album’s closer, ‘DJ’, has Sparhawk at his most Mormon inspired, with its lyric, “You want religion / You want assurance / A resurrection / Some kind of purpose / You had the vision”.

‘Clarence White’ was a muddy churner from 2013’s The Invisible Way, ending sparsely, the new ‘Kid in a Corner’ brought things up again, and ‘Lies’ was dark but beautiful. The devastating tension build of the ten-minute ‘Landslide’ ended the in-store, in which the band played a full ¾ of the new album.

For anyone wanting another taste, or a more full and complete set, Low is on tour through the end of the year with a return appearance locally, in the Mainroom at First Avenue on November 11, a date which should be dark and cold enough to be the perfect setting for their music.

We’re not even out of January yet and Alan Sparhawk is already having a great and productive year! Not only is Low, the simmering Duluth-based indie-rock band he co-fronts with wife Mimi Parker and bassist Steve Garrington, recording a new record and in the midst of a short jaunt around eastern Europe, but there are a slew of other excellent Sparhawk projects to be seen and heard in the next few months. Raucous blues band the Black-Eyed Snakes wrapped up 2014 with two spectacular gigs in December (one at the Icehouse and one supporting Kid Dakota at the Turf Club) and there is word of a possible new album while The Murder of Crows, a collaboration between Sparhawk and fellow Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea, is scheduled to open for His Name is Alive on their 25th anniversary tour at the Entry in April.

On February 13th at the Turf Club in St Paul, Minnesota, Sparhawk will join guitarist Rich Mattson, drummer Glen Mattson and bass player Dale Kallman for one of the finest Neil Young tribute acts around, Tired Eyes. What started as a lark one cold January in 2013 at a Duluth bar has become an annual thing, with the guys taking it to the Twin Cities a few times now (including last October at the Indeed Brewery’s Hullabaloo). I’ve heard that this is a really fun show and a must for any die-hard Neil fan - if they’re taking requests, I’m gonna throw mine in right away: Guys, play “World on a String” or “Lookout Joe”! Or hell, anything from Tonight’s the Night! Or “When You Dance” and “Don’t Let it Bring You Down” and “Cripple Creek Ferry”! Or “Everybody Knows This is Nowhere”! Or “Cinnamon Girl”!! There are just too many great songs!

Tired Eyes will be playing with none other than the gentle king of lo-fi himself, Lou Barlow, performing a rare solo show. Barlow has been keeping busy the last few years with Sebadoh, having released anniversary editions of classic albums like Bubble and Scrape and Bakesale and recording a brand new album, the well-received Defend Yourself, their first in 14 years. Recently, Sebadoh wrapped up a tour of North America (they were at the Entry in September) and Europe. And although Dinosaur Jr hasn’t released new music since 2012’s I Bet on Sky, Barlow joined the band as they headlined New York City’s 4Knots Music Festival in July, playing with great acts like Those Darlins and Nude Beach. For podcast listeners and fans interested in learning more about Barlow, comedian Marc Maron had him as a guest on his podcast early last year and it’s definitely worth a listen (check it out at wtfpod.com).

Folks, forget the chocolates and flowers; consider this gig an early Valentines gift to yourself.

I've seen Belle & Sebastian twice, but have never made the commitment to tracking them down for autographs. That's got to be tough, as you know the group is large (currently: Stuart Murdoch, Stevie Jackson ...

One of my favorite bands Looper is back. I've seen the band twice, and the first time I bought all their CDs that they had for sale at the merch table.... but they went away. As you may know, after Looper made over half a million pounds off of their breakthrough lo-fi hit "Mondo '77", they basically just retired from music! You can read all about this bbc.co.uk, where he's quoted, "The four of us have been able to live on this song for the last five years." Look, I don't blame them, I'd probably go offline and live in the countryside too.

Hear "Mondo '77":

Anyway, the brand new album called Offgrid: Offline, and it's coming out on April 14th, 2015, via Mute Records. If you have half a million lying around, the new record will be included in a nice five-CD boxset called These Things.